A DECADE of INSPIRATION WGA Showrunner Training Program
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A DECADE OF INSPIRATION WGA Showrunner Training Program 10 YEARS OF EDUCATION AND INSPIRATION Message From Peter Roth For 10 years, the Writers Guild Showrunner Training Program — with the support of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers — has provided an extraordinary opportunity to WGA members, a course that should be required attendance for anyone with any intention of helming a television series. The innovative six-week program provides prospective showrunners with the most important fundamentals of how to lead and successfully shepherd a series. Writers are counseled on the importance of the subtler elements of the job, including network and studio relationships; the value of fiscal responsibility; and the strength of true leadership — how to inspire, galvanize and utilize the best talents of their teams. Utilizing experienced, thoughtful, veteran showrunners and guest speakers to share insights, anecdotes and workshops, this forum has proven to be critically important for writers to learn, participate, grow and succeed. And for proof of the program’s efficacy, you need look no further than the fact that more than 60 new series have been created or co-created by alumni of the Showrunner Training Program. From my perspective, having spent 41 years working as an executive in television, I am convinced that it’s the best, most comprehensive, most important program available to showrunners in the business. The benefits of this program — for writers as well as for those of us on the network and studio side — are immeasurable. It is therefore my great pleasure to congratulate the Writers Guild of America and everyone involved in the Showrunner Training Program on a highly successful first 10 years and to wish you continued great good luck as you embark on your second decade of training the future showrunners of our industry. With gratitude and appreciation, Peter Roth President and Chief Content Officer Warner Bros. Television Group Message From Jeff Melvoin When I first approached WGA West President John Wells with the idea of a Show Runner Training Program, I sensed there was a hunger for it, but had no idea the response would be so overwhelming. Ten years later, the enthusiasm and need have only grown — and they’re related. The ongoing upheaval in the television industry has dramatically intensified the demand for show runners, creating a turbulent environment that thrusts an increasing number of writers into show-running responsibilities without benefit of much, if any, on-the-job apprenticeship. When the SRTP began, my expectation was that all applicants would have at least some staff experience. That changed when we admitted Matt Nix, the creator of Burn Notice, in our second year. He was a key contributor, and the subsequent success of his series was no surprise. I joked that henceforth we would reserve “the Matt Nix chair” for an outstanding candidate who had never set foot in a writers room before. Today, that’s become “the Matt Nix string section,” as more and more candidates apply with a paucity of television experience, but a corresponding wealth of diversity in background, creativity, and potential. As the business continues to evolve, so will the SRTP. To a point – because the most important things the program has to offer are precisely those qualities and skills that don’t change with the times, but remain vital to successfully running any series in any context. Balancing the old and the new is a challenge I didn’t expect ten years ago, but view today as one of the great benefits of the program personally. It certainly keeps me on my toes. But my chief pleasure has been the opportunity to get to know the many veteran show runners and other industry professionals who have generously given their time to instruct and, most especially, the 280 remarkable writers who have been our class members thus far. Our alumni are not only television’s future, but after ten years, a growing part of its present. Their professional achievements speak for themselves, but it is the intangibles – their leadership, character, and collegiality – that make me equally proud. Working with them has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. And the good news is, there’s another class coming this year. I can’t wait. Message From Yvette Bowser For the past decade it has been my extreme honor to collaborate with Jeff Melvoin and Carole Kirschner to establish and refine the WGA Showrunner Training Program. Its strength lies not only in the time and experiences shared by accomplished mentors and guest speakers, but also in the talented and dedicated participants who enroll and contribute to the program each year. When I was invited to participate in developing the curriculum for the SRTP, I was flattered and concerned. How could we impart, in six weeks time, what took so many writer-producers years to learn? How might we boil everything down to a format we could succinctly and clearly pass on to future show runners? How exactly would we teach the art of managing art? It sounded like an incredible challenge… and a little crazy. But somehow, with effort from a dedicated committee, and lots of healthy debate, we managed to pull things together for the first session and continued polishing from there. Much like the process from story breaking to shooting script, the program has been a work in progress, constantly evolving and improving to suit the times and the needs of the industry and future show runners. Our main goal has always been to demystify the TV series management process and help better define the nebulous role of show runner. As a team, we’ve succeeded in providing clearer focus on demands, expectations and skills required of such an all-encompassing, and creative, leadership position. Many of the program’s graduates now thrive as chief architects and decision-makers of highly regarded series. SRTP participants are now sought after by studios and networks, as their talents have been further augmented by the credentials of this esteemed program. From the beginning the networks and studios have collectively agreed to financially support this specific curriculum, designed to remove some of the guesswork from the process and replace it with the best tutelage and methodologies our industry has to offer. The net gain is found in increased management, monetary efficiencies and expanded career growth. As we eagerly anticipate the 11th year of the program, I look forward to new faces, new ideas, new horror stories, and helping my peers reach their goals. Here’s to many more years of engaged show runner training and entertaining, skillfully-executed television. Message From Carole Kirschner In 2005 WGA West Executive Director John McLean approached me to assist Jeff Melvoin as Jeff was initially developing the curriculum for the Show Runner Training Program. I was intrigued. There had never been such a Program and we were starting from scratch. But we knew that if we got it right we would be providing invaluable and timely assistance; not just to writer-producers but to the companies as well. From the success of our alumni over the first decade, as well as the continuing enthusiastic response from the community, it feels like we’re getting it right so far. It has been my honor to be the Director of the Showrunner Training Program from its inception and to work with so many generous and talented television professionals. From Jeff and Yvette to MC Foley for the past 7 years and Sharline Liu before that, to all the guest speakers and every alumni, it has been a pleasure to help manage and shepherd the Show Runner Training Program. Here’s to the next ten years! Carole Kirschner 10 YEARS OF GUEST SPEAKERS We thank every television professional who gave their time to contribute to the SRTP Courtney Kemp Agboh Kenya Barris Shane Brennan Ilene Chaiken Mara Brock Akil Janine Sherman Barrois Bob Broder Adam Chase JoAnn Alfano Kevin Bassinson Sterling Brown Joey Chavez Josh Appelbaum Sam Baum Casey Brown Jon Chibnal Meredith Averill Carter Bays Andy Cadiff Leo Chu Neal Baer Ben Benedetti Steve Callaghan Aron Coleite Tim Bagley Greg Berlanti Stephen J. Cannell Ryan Condal Alan Ball Maggie Blanc Chris Cantwell Matt Corman Carol Barbee Steven Bochco Jill Cargerman Carter Covington Paris Barclay Rob Bowman Robert Carlock Liz Craft Lynn Barrie Yvette Lee Bowser Jennifer Cecil Carlton Cuse Collin Daniel Sam Ernst Eric Friedman Neil Goldman Greg Daniels Steve Faber Josh Friedman Jessica Goldstein Steve Dayan Sarah Fain Eric Garcia Howard Gordon Liz Dean Stephen Falk Greg Garcia Maria Grasso Russell Denove Kevin Falls Joe Gayton Brett Greenstein Kevin Dowling Ann Farriday Tony Gayton Jonathan Groff James Duff Felicia Fasano Glenn Geller Stephanie Groves Ed Duffy Michele Fazekas R. Scott Gemmill Barbara Hall Jim Dunn Kenneth Fink Vince Gilligan Emily Halpern David Eick Caitlin Foito Gary Glasberg Doug Hannah Diane English Duke Foster Lesli Linka Glatter Hart Hanson Jason Ensler Michael Fresco Michael Gleason Chris Harris Arthur Harris David Hudgins Chris Keyser Andrew Kreisberg Sarah Haskins Jamila Hunter Michael Patrick King Elizabeth Kruger Eileen Heisler Albert Ibbotson Cleo King John Landgraf Dave Hemingson Laura Innes Justin Kirk Bill Lawrence Abraham Higginbotham Lauren Iungerich Alan Kirschenbaum Janet Leahy Andy Hill Jennifer Johnson Jay Kleckner Andrew Leeds Timothy Hillman Dan Kaplow Aaron Klemanski Paul Leiberstein Alicia Hirsch Emily Kapnek Alexis Koczara Carol Leifer Michael Hoggan Jason Katims Jenji Kohan Gregory